Day 2
Bike to breakfast in the Village
No matter where you’re staying on the island, you’re within biking distance of the village. So why not hop on and pedal you way to one of our outstanding breakfast locations, all on Mallery Street
Palmer’s Village Café traditional breakfast and gourmet omelets
Sandcastle Café – featuring a breakfast menu and outstanding breakfast buffet
Bike excursion
Now that you’re fueled up, explore the island by bicycle. With miles of paved trails, you’re safely out of traffic and often under a canopy of oaks. Discover your own route, or follow this loop:
- Starting in the village from Mallery Street, turn left on Ocean Boulevard. At the light (and at the end of the airport runway), turn left on Retreat Avenue.
- As you ride down Retreat Avenue, you’ll be riding alongside the famous “Avenue of the Oaks,” once the entrance to the antebellum cotton plantation, Retreat. Now home of a 5-Star, 5-Diamond golf resort, the grounds feature two golf courses (Seaside and Retreat) and a 42-room hotel called The Lodge. The grounds are private—at the end of the Avenue of the Oaks, turn around at the guard gate.
- Back at the traffic light, turn left on Kings Way (Ocean Boulevard becomes Kings Way). When the trees open up to the golf course—with a view of the marsh on your left—follow the sidewalk as it turns right on Sea Island Road. Continue through the light, then take the first left on Hamilton Road
- The end of this short road opens up to Gascoigne Bluff, St. Simons marina and Epworth by the Sea. Explore this residential neighborhood with amazing river views and historic sites including slave cabins and Lovely Lane Chapel. After exploring, exit the area through Hamilton Street and turn right on Sea Island Road.
- Back at the light, turn left on Demere Road. Use caution at the roundabout, crossing the street only at designated crosswalks
- Should you be ready for a lunch break, Southern Soul Barbeque is a local favorite with all the BBQ fixins. Indoor and outdoor picnic table seating is available.
- At the roundabout, continue on Demere Road (Southern Soul on your left and the farmer’s market on your right). Continue on Demere, take a left on East Beach Causeway at the flashing light (use the designated crosswalk)
- East Beach Causeway takes you through the marsh. Turn left on Ocean Road to enter the East Beach neighborhood. Along Ocean Road are cottage homes on the right and marsh vistas on the left. Bird sightings are common along this stretch.
- At 15th Street, turn right and continue one block to the end of the street. You’ve reached Gould’s Inlet overlooking Sea Island and the Atlantic Ocean. Just beyond the wooden pier are several park benches for a restful and photo opportunity
- From Gould’s Inlet, continue straight on Bruce Drive. Upon exiting the neighborhood, turn left on Ocean Boulevard. Follow Ocean back to your starting point in the village
Beach in the afternoon
After an active morning, what better way to spend the afternoon that relaxing on the Island’s beaches? St. Simons Island has two convenient public parking and beach access locations on Ocean Boulevard at the Coast Guard Station and Massengale Beach. Parking is free and a boardwalk leads from the parking area to the beach.
Several smaller beach access locations are scattered along Ocean Boulevard and other oceanfront streets. Look for the green “Public Beach Access” signs and please obey posted parking signs to avoid ticketing or towing.
Fancy dinner
St. Simons island is fortunate to have many unique restaurants. Most are casual, but for a special night out, you may want to get gussied up for these fine dining restaurants:
Georgia Sea Grill
http://georgiaseagrill.com/ is located in the village and features fresh seafood—choose your catch, then choose the style of preparation. Always extraordinary.
Delaney’s Bistro
http://www.delaneysbistro.com/ Dinner selections include fresh seafood, poultry and prime beef. Chef Tom Delaney prepares nightly specials that are both unexpected and delicious.
